Extension Agents Perception of Open Data Usage in Agricultural Communication in Abia State

The study assessed Agricultural Extension agent’s perception of open data usage in agricultural communication in Abia State.  Simple random sampling technique was used to select 83 agricultural extension agents for the study. Data for the study was collected with the aid of questionnaire and analyzed with frequency counts, percentages and mean. There were more males (55%) among agricultural extension agents in the state. Mean age of the extension agents was found to be 47 years. Majority (88%) of the extension agent were married with a mean household size of 5 persons. As regards highest level of education, majority (66%) of the extension agents hold a Bachelor’s degree with an average working experience of 13years and average monthly income of N62,000. A moderate percentage (68%) of agricultural extension agents were aware of open data with only 15% and 7% having high and very high level of awareness. A relatively high percentage (54%) understand what open data is all about with only 49% consenting to be involved in the use of open data mainly at a moderate level (66%). Agricultural extension agents majorly perceive open data to facilitate agricultural research (  = 3.2), access to research findings (  = 3.2), gives access to the work of other agricultural extension agents in other states (  = 3.2), exposes them to innovation in agriculture (  = 3.2) and timely access to all necessary information (  = 3.1). The major challenges to the use of open data among agricultural extension agents were lack of fund to purchase internet bundle (  = 2.2), unavailability of internet facilities(  = 2.1), lack of basic ICT facilities (  = 2.1) and lack of adequate knowledge of the use of ICT(  = 2.0) and open data (  = 2.0). Propagation of the use of open data could be done majorly by provision of ICTs in the office (  = 3.6), training of extension agents to understand the concept of open data (  = 3.6) and provision of internet facilities for extension agent (  = 3.5). The study emphasized the need for Government through the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) to provide basic ICT’s in the office and provision of internet facilities to enable extension agents maximize the use of open data

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING ARTISANAL FISHING IN EASTERN OBOLO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

The study identified the environmental factors affecting artisanal fishing in Eastern Obolo local government area of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. The study specifically determined the socio-economic characteristics of the fish farmers, the environmental factors affecting fishing in Eastern Obolo local government area, the constraints faced by artisanal fishermen in Eastern Obolo local government area and the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics and the constraints faced. Ninety artisanal fishermen were selected using two-stage sampling techniques. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule was used to get information. The research objectives were analyzed using frequency, percentages and mean. On the socio-economics characteristics of the artisanal fishermen, it was found that majority (58%) were male with 36% of the respondents having secondary school as their highest level of education. Also 31% have fishing experience of below10 years with yearly fish output of above 1000kg by 31% of the respondents and yearly income of greater than N200,000 by 53% of the respondents while 81%  belong to co-operative society. None of the respondents have been visited by extension agents. The major environmental factors affecting artisanal fishing in the area were oil spillage (100%), waste disposal (100%) and climatic factors (100%). On the constraints faced, the study found out that militant activities, inadequate finance, Oil spillage around depots, and Poor sales were found to be serious. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that, the Government and other appropriate authorities should enforce the fishing laws and regulations to avoid illegal exploitation of fishing grounds by trawlers and the destruction of artisanal fishing gears. Also, better access to relevant information should be enhanced by making extension services available to fish farmers in the various depotsÂ

INFLUENCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON CAREER ASPIRATION OF AGRICULTURE UNDERGRADUATES IN RIVERS STATE

The study identified the influence of entrepreneurship education on career aspiration of agriculture undergraduates in Rivers State. Two stage sampling procedure was used to select 94 final year undergraduates for the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings show that minimal take off fund (88%), desire to develop entrepreneurship skills (87%), low level of mechanization (81%), intrinsic desire for the career (74%), less difficulty to access agric. fund (68%), social status of those already in agric. career (67%) and family and environmental factors (60%) were major factors influencing students’ career aspirations. The major influences of entrepreneurship education on students’ career aspiration include developing creativity in students (= 3.4), increasing students’ self-confidence ( = 3.5), aiding financial management (= 3.5), becoming entrepreneurial oriented (= 3.6) and increasing students’ ambition of being self-employed (= 3.5). Binary logit regression result showed that a significant relationship exists between the agric. undergraduate’s demographic characteristics and their choice of career while the Ordinary least square regression analysis also showed that a significant relationship exists between the student’s perception of career in agriculture and their demographic characteristics with an f-value of 14.161 which was significant at both 0.01 and 0.05 probability level and overall p-value of 0.000. It was recommended that entrepreneurship courses be made more practical, government should give soft agricultural loans, proper orientation be given to students at the secondary school level to boost their interest in agricultural careers

Extension Agents Perception of Open Data Usage in Agricultural Communication in Abia State

The study assessed Agricultural Extension agent’s perception of open data usage in agricultural communication in Abia State.  Simple random sampling technique was used to select 83 agricultural extension agents for the study. Data for the study was collected with the aid of questionnaire and analyzed with frequency counts, percentages and mean. There were more males (55%) among agricultural extension agents in the state. Mean age of the extension agents was found to be 47 years. Majority (88%) of the extension agent were married with a mean household size of 5 persons. As regards highest level of education, majority (66%) of the extension agents hold a Bachelor’s degree with an average working experience of 13years and average monthly income of N62,000. A moderate percentage (68%) of agricultural extension agents were aware of open data with only 15% and 7% having high and very high level of awareness. A relatively high percentage (54%) understand what open data is all about with only 49% consenting to be involved in the use of open data mainly at a moderate level (66%). Agricultural extension agents majorly perceive open data to facilitate agricultural research (  = 3.2), access to research findings (  = 3.2), gives access to the work of other agricultural extension agents in other states (  = 3.2), exposes them to innovation in agriculture (  = 3.2) and timely access to all necessary information (  = 3.1). The major challenges to the use of open data among agricultural extension agents were lack of fund to purchase internet bundle (  = 2.2), unavailability of internet facilities(  = 2.1), lack of basic ICT facilities (  = 2.1) and lack of adequate knowledge of the use of ICT(  = 2.0) and open data (  = 2.0). Propagation of the use of open data could be done majorly by provision of ICTs in the office (  = 3.6), training of extension agents to understand the concept of open data (  = 3.6) and provision of internet facilities for extension agent (  = 3.5). The study emphasized the need for Government through the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) to provide basic ICT’s in the office and provision of internet facilities to enable extension agents maximize the use of open data

INFLUENCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON CAREER ASPIRATION OF AGRICULTURE UNDERGRADUATES IN RIVERS STATE

The study identified the influence of entrepreneurship education on career aspiration of agriculture undergraduates in Rivers State. Two stage sampling procedure was used to select 94 final year undergraduates for the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings show that minimal take off fund (88%), desire to develop entrepreneurship skills (87%), low level of mechanization (81%), intrinsic desire for the career (74%), less difficulty to access agric. fund (68%), social status of those already in agric. career (67%) and family and environmental factors (60%) were major factors influencing students’ career aspirations. The major influences of entrepreneurship education on students’ career aspiration include developing creativity in students (= 3.4), increasing students’ self-confidence ( = 3.5), aiding financial management (= 3.5), becoming entrepreneurial oriented (= 3.6) and increasing students’ ambition of being self-employed (= 3.5). Binary logit regression result showed that a significant relationship exists between the agric. undergraduate’s demographic characteristics and their choice of career while the Ordinary least square regression analysis also showed that a significant relationship exists between the student’s perception of career in agriculture and their demographic characteristics with an f-value of 14.161 which was significant at both 0.01 and 0.05 probability level and overall p-value of 0.000. It was recommended that entrepreneurship courses be made more practical, government should give soft agricultural loans, proper orientation be given to students at the secondary school level to boost their interest in agricultural careers

INFLUENCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON CAREER ASPIRATION OF AGRICULTURE UNDERGRADUATES IN RIVERS STATE

The study identified the influence of entrepreneurship education on career aspiration of agriculture undergraduates in Rivers State. Two stage sampling procedure was used to select 94 final year undergraduates for the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings show that minimal take off fund (88%), desire to develop entrepreneurship skills (87%), low level of mechanization (81%), intrinsic desire for the career (74%), less difficulty to access agric. fund (68%), social status of those already in agric. career (67%) and family and environmental factors (60%) were major factors influencing students’ career aspirations. The major influences of entrepreneurship education on students’ career aspiration include developing creativity in students (= 3.4), increasing students’ self-confidence ( = 3.5), aiding financial management (= 3.5), becoming entrepreneurial oriented (= 3.6) and increasing students’ ambition of being self-employed (= 3.5). Binary logit regression result showed that a significant relationship exists between the agric. undergraduate’s demographic characteristics and their choice of career while the Ordinary least square regression analysis also showed that a significant relationship exists between the student’s perception of career in agriculture and their demographic characteristics with an f-value of 14.161 which was significant at both 0.01 and 0.05 probability level and overall p-value of 0.000. It was recommended that entrepreneurship courses be made more practical, government should give soft agricultural loans, proper orientation be given to students at the secondary school level to boost their interest in agricultural careers

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING ARTISANAL FISHING IN EASTERN OBOLO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

The study identified the environmental factors affecting artisanal fishing in Eastern Obolo local government area of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. The study specifically determined the socio-economic characteristics of the fish farmers, the environmental factors affecting fishing in Eastern Obolo local government area, the constraints faced by artisanal fishermen in Eastern Obolo local government area and the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics and the constraints faced. Ninety artisanal fishermen were selected using two-stage sampling techniques. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule was used to get information. The research objectives were analyzed using frequency, percentages and mean. On the socio-economics characteristics of the artisanal fishermen, it was found that majority (58%) were male with 36% of the respondents having secondary school as their highest level of education. Also 31% have fishing experience of below10 years with yearly fish output of above 1000kg by 31% of the respondents and yearly income of greater than N200,000 by 53% of the respondents while 81%  belong to co-operative society. None of the respondents have been visited by extension agents. The major environmental factors affecting artisanal fishing in the area were oil spillage (100%), waste disposal (100%) and climatic factors (100%). On the constraints faced, the study found out that militant activities, inadequate finance, Oil spillage around depots, and Poor sales were found to be serious. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that, the Government and other appropriate authorities should enforce the fishing laws and regulations to avoid illegal exploitation of fishing grounds by trawlers and the destruction of artisanal fishing gears. Also, better access to relevant information should be enhanced by making extension services available to fish farmers in the various depotsÂ

Extension Agents Perception of Open Data Usage in Agricultural Communication in Abia State

The study assessed Agricultural Extension agent’s perception of open data usage in agricultural communication in Abia State.  Simple random sampling technique was used to select 83 agricultural extension agents for the study. Data for the study was collected with the aid of questionnaire and analyzed with frequency counts, percentages and mean. There were more males (55%) among agricultural extension agents in the state. Mean age of the extension agents was found to be 47 years. Majority (88%) of the extension agent were married with a mean household size of 5 persons. As regards highest level of education, majority (66%) of the extension agents hold a Bachelor’s degree with an average working experience of 13years and average monthly income of N62,000. A moderate percentage (68%) of agricultural extension agents were aware of open data with only 15% and 7% having high and very high level of awareness. A relatively high percentage (54%) understand what open data is all about with only 49% consenting to be involved in the use of open data mainly at a moderate level (66%). Agricultural extension agents majorly perceive open data to facilitate agricultural research (  = 3.2), access to research findings (  = 3.2), gives access to the work of other agricultural extension agents in other states (  = 3.2), exposes them to innovation in agriculture (  = 3.2) and timely access to all necessary information (  = 3.1). The major challenges to the use of open data among agricultural extension agents were lack of fund to purchase internet bundle (  = 2.2), unavailability of internet facilities(  = 2.1), lack of basic ICT facilities (  = 2.1) and lack of adequate knowledge of the use of ICT(  = 2.0) and open data (  = 2.0). Propagation of the use of open data could be done majorly by provision of ICTs in the office (  = 3.6), training of extension agents to understand the concept of open data (  = 3.6) and provision of internet facilities for extension agent (  = 3.5). The study emphasized the need for Government through the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) to provide basic ICT’s in the office and provision of internet facilities to enable extension agents maximize the use of open data

Constraints to Conducting Agricultural Research Uptake Activities Among Researchers in Rivers State, Nigeria

The study assessed constraints faced by agriculture researchers in conducting research uptake activities in tertiary institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used to select one hundred and eighty-two agriculture researchers from the three universities that have faculty of Agriculture in Rivers State. Data for the study was collected using a questionnaire and in-depth interviews while analysis of data was carried out using, mean, percentages and the Binary Logit regression model. Results showed that 98% of the researchers were involved in research uptake activities. Publication of journal articles (76%), convening training workshops (60%) and organizing seminars (59%) were the major research uptake activities conducted by agriculture researchers in the State. Insufficient funds ( =3.68), lack of basic facilities ( =3.54) and poor synergy between researchers and policymakers ( =3.48) were major constraints faced by agriculture researchers in conducting research uptake activities. Agriculture researchers’ socioeconomic characteristics were not significant determinants of agriculture researchers’ level of involvement in research uptake activities in the study area. The provision of basic structural facilities and financial support by university management will aid agricultural researchers’ involvement in research uptake activitie

Constraints to Conducting Agricultural Research Uptake Activities Among Researchers in Rivers State, Nigeria

The study assessed constraints faced by agriculture researchers in conducting research uptake activities in tertiary institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used to select one hundred and eighty-two agriculture researchers from the three universities that have faculty of Agriculture in Rivers State. Data for the study was collected using a questionnaire and in-depth interviews while analysis of data was carried out using, mean, percentages and the Binary Logit regression model. Results showed that 98% of the researchers were involved in research uptake activities. Publication of journal articles (76%), convening training workshops (60%) and organizing seminars (59%) were the major research uptake activities conducted by agriculture researchers in the State. Insufficient funds (x ̅ =3.68), lack of basic facilities (x ̅ =3.54) and poor synergy between researchers and policymakers (x ̅ =3.48) were major constraints faced by agriculture researchers in conducting research uptake activities. Agriculture researchers’ socioeconomic characteristics were not significant determinants of agriculture researchers’ level of involvement in research uptake activities in the study area. The provision of basic structural facilities and financial support by university management will aid agricultural researchers’ involvement in research uptake activities